Silverware

[Jenn! 918]

We had steak for dinner, and I noticed that people ate them differently. Most of the Americans in our group cut their steak into bite-sized pieces, put the knife down and ate with their fork.

Where were you???? I must say, I've never seen American adults eat this way!

[chri'stina 190]

I am amazed at the things my husband will eat with just his fingers.... I use a fork and knife for everything....

Kez

hehe..I have always used my hands to eat certain things, like lettuce in a salad, or other things you are only supposed to eat with utensils. My mom used to make jokes about it when I was young. But it works out really good since I married an Indian, and he eats with his hands more than I do. And it seems it's not even rude to use your fingers to wipe the plate clean and lick them, with some Indian food. Works for me!

[doodlebug 3]

Usually just a fork but a knife when I eat steak since most times chicken and fish can just be cut with a fork.

My husband eats with his hands mostly.

[sophyie 0]

We had steak for dinner, and I noticed that people ate them differently. Most of the Americans in our group cut their steak into bite-sized pieces, put the knife down and ate with their fork.

Where were you???? I must say, I've never seen American adults eat this way!

I hadn't either, I guess that's why I noticed. And I didn't ever notice it again...

It was a mixed group from various European countries and I think 4 Americans- two of them ate that way. They live together, too... maybe that's why one of them ate like that and the other copied.

[Mags 112]

I use a knife and fork usually (USC here). I mean, usually there's some sort of meat that has to be cut.

ETA: Maybe I don't really understand the question. You use a knife when it is needed. So are you asking how often our meals necessitate the use of a knife?

I mean throughout the meal, knife in one hand, fork in the other. Like Bethanie said, I use the knife to manipulate my food onto the fork, cut the food etc.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

The poll was deficient.

We do use fork only at LEF retreats (, some restaurants, local church meals)--but for everyday, most desis (us included) use NO cutlery.

[StarProg 0]

Me (USC): I like to have a knife handy when I'm eating, but mostly use the fork.

Wife (Philippine citizen): Hands only, even for rice, spaghetti, everything. She only uses a fork when I'm there. And her family does not use knives to cut, if they don't pull it apart with their fingers they might use a large spoon. I always have to remind Fely to bring me a knife when she prepares my meals.

[Mags 112]

The poll was deficient.

I'm sorry my poll didn't quite meet your high standards.

I'm only interested in people who actually use cutlery anyway...so in reality, I didn't actually require your vote anyway. Apologies for ANY inconvenience caused to you whilst partaking in this poll.

Edited January 25, 2007 by mags

[Mary Lou 681]

Me USC fork, unless im cutting meat

Gary uses fork and knife

He shouts at me to use my knife when i use my fingers to scoop peas or whatever veggie we are having on the fork

[Thingee 0]

UKS fiancee eats with his knife and fork at every meal...including just beans on toast. I generally use a knife as needed, and that includes helping various foodstuffs onto my fork.

Cute story: His last visit I was cooking, so he was setting the table, and put out butter knives for all the kids. They objected, "We aren't allowed to use knives!" After watching him eat they sure tried to do it his way as fingers in the plate aren't encouraged with most meals at my house.

Editted to fix a typo. I'm lame brained today.

Edited January 25, 2007 by Thingee

[Wild Wind 0]

Chopsticks

[SoL. 0]

Both of us use fork most of the time, unless there's some food cutting involved

[Knobby_Wheezer 0]

Born and raised in Canada to Scottish parents (who were born and raised in Scotland, don'tcha know) and I use a knife and fork to eat meals off the big plates. For meals off of the little plates it is optional to use cutlery or one's fingers.

AND, we called the pieces "cutlery" or "irons," not silverware. We had silverware---kept in a velvet-y wooden box in the dining room, both of which were for when we had comp'ny.

To clarify, "irons" was the word that my father would use when we were having difficulty wielding them correctly when we were children (my younger brother and I, that is). "Hold your irons properly!"

Dunno. He never explained its use and I can't ask him now. He's gone.

[Fandango 1,439]

Knife and fork for me too

I thought it was strange the way the knife is always in the right hand and there's no fork-switchover when you're done cutting. I also thought it was strange to do fork tongs over not under....now it seems perfectly normal and logical

[deathbydalbhat 0]

I usually just use a fork, or chopsticks.

Kumar eats Nepali style, with his right hand(the left is used for other things ) It's amazing to see him eat a whole plate of dal bhat without making a mess - I'll learn someday